President Lech Kaczynski died today in a plane crash in Smolensk, western Russia. He was 61 years old.

A graduate of the law department at Warsaw University, he first pursued an academic career. In the 1970s he was active in the anti-communist dissident movement, as well as the independent trade unions.

In August 1980 he became an adviser to the Solidarity movement. He was interned for ten months by the communist regime after the imposition of martial law in December 1981.

After his release from internment, Lech Kaczynski returned to trade union activities as member of the underground Solidarity. 1989 he participated in the Round Table talks between Solidarity and the communist regime which led to the first semi-democratic elections and the formation of the Solidarity-led government.

In post communist Poland, Lech Kaczynski served as a senator, president of the Supreme Chamber of Control, minister of justice and the Mayor of Warsaw.

Nine years ago, together with his brother Jaroslaw, Lech Kaczynski founded the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.

In October 2005 he was elected President of Poland, defeating the current prime minister Donald Tusk. He was a critic of the economically liberal government. and an advocate of a moral revolution. Even his political opponents admitted on many occasions that he never personally benefited from politics.

Lech Kaczynski was thought to be just about to announce that he would run for a second term of office as president in this year’s elections.

Among the victims of the plane crash Saturday morning was his wife, First Lady Maria Kaczynska. He leaves behind a daughter, Marta. (mk)

Audio: Michal Kubicki